I've been writing about the world of entertainment for 14 years, and have interviewed hundreds of celebrities from daytime and primetime television. I'm the co-author of Boob Tube, a novel that explores the behind-the-scenes world of daytime soap operas. I began my writing career working for Soap Opera Weekly magazine where I covered Passions and The Bold and the Beautiful. I enjoyed a brief flirtation working at a technology PR firm writing press releases, after which I returned to my true love, writing about the entertainment industry. For many years, I wrote a monthly opinion column for Soapdom.com. Since 2009, I’ve blogged about entertainment, sports and politics for The Huffington Post. Next to my husband, my best friend is my TiVo remote. When I’m not writing, or watching copious amounts of television, I enjoy hiking, traveling, acting, figure skating, reading, and visiting used bookstores. I'm a proud USC alumni, where I earned a B.A. in Political Science. Follow me on Twitter @LesleyannC

Soaps Back From the Dead: All My Children and One Life to Live Revived Online

More than a year after daytime television soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live went off the air when they were cancelled by ABC, production company Prospect Park has announced it will revive the shows online, as the anchor programs for The Online Network (TOLN).

Prospect Park, the production company behind the hit USA network show, Royal Pains, and the F/X show Wilfred, was founded in 2008 by Rich Frank, a former executive at Walt Disney Television, and Jeff Kwatinetz, the former CEO of Hollywood talent agency, The Firm.

Prospect Park announced today that it has confirmed deals with the unions – a sticking point in negotiations a year ago which led to the deal falling through. This time however, SAG and AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) are officially on board, as well as the DGA (Directors Guild of America). Talks are ongoing with the WGA (Writers Guild of America).

AMC’s and OLTL’s legendary creator, Agnes Nixon, has agreed to have “active involvement with the shows” as a consultant. Three actors (Vincent Irizarry, Lindsay Hartley and Debbi Morgan) have already signed on to reprise their AMC roles. No casting news was available for OLTL yet. Production is set to start in Stamford, Connecticut in February. No premiere dates have been announced.

The shows are rumored to be moving from 60 minutes to 30 minutes, with fewer ad breaks.

Once a staple of everyday life, first on radio, then on television, soaps were originally intended as a vehicle for soap manufacturers to sell their products, hence the nickname “soaps.” At the height of their popularity in the early 1970’s, there were 19 soaps broadcast every day, with the highest rated soap, As the World Turns, receiving a 13.6 in the ratings.

In recent years, thanks to declining ratings and more alternative media options (cable TV, YouTube, Facebook) vying for a limited number of consumer eyeballs, only four network soaps remain. The current number one rated soap, The Young and the Restless, averaged a 3.5 in the ratings for the 2011-2012 TV season.

Soap fans remain a vocal and viable block for advertisers. Thanks to widespread fan outrage over the cancellation of AMC and OLTL in 2011 – and their threats to boycott ABC – advertisers took note. Vacuum maker Hoover even pulled all of their ads from ABC, citing disappointment over the dropped soaps.

“We thank the loyal audience and new generation of fans of both shows who have demonstrated that passion and exciting story lines are not just reserved for traditional television. Their enduring support encouraged us to move forward each and every day. We look forward to sharing more details including our launch air date and additional specifics in the coming weeks.”

It remains to be seen whether viewers will follow from television to an online format, but the move seems a smart bet as viewing habits change.

With more forms of media come more ways to view it. According to a recent study cited in Ad Week, only 40% of adults between 18-24 watch television programs at their broadcast scheduled times. In the same article, Nielsen Media said “the 25-to-34 demo spends about 28 hours each week watching traditional TV, compared to 41 hours from those aged 50 to 65 and 32.47 hours for all U.S. viewers.”

With Netflix, iTunes, Hulu, Smart phones, Tablets, Facebook, and Twitter giving fans more options to discover, consume, share, and discuss their favorite shows, Prospect Park has the opportunity to do online what can’t be done through traditional broadcast distribution channels. With online video, a show is only a click away from the social media streams of every consumer. The social media-equipped consumer becomes the distributor.

If Prospect Park’s gambit proves a success, the next time any show goes off the air – whether daytime or primetime – its move online may not be seen as the show’s death knell, but as a sign of the new media life to come.

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Forbes has published numerous articles detailing our soap opera movement and I would like to thank you for that. You are among the mainstream media who has kept us in the public eye. It’s not very often that a show/genre based group of fans has accomplished what we have. The television executives seem to be driven solely be the cost of a show. They fail to take into account the negative publicity that goes along with cancelling programs that have had loyal viewers for many decades. If this relaunch of All My Children and One Life To Live comes to fruition, I will begin again to have faith in the system. Retaining loyal viewers – whether they are Daytime or Primetime viewers should matter to the powers that be.

Thank God that someone finally come to their senses..Our beloved shows are going to return thanks to you all. I hope you can get Zendall back on the story line also..The show has been missed dearly for the last year.. What a great New year this will be..Belinda

YAYYYYYYYYY,my 2 favorite soaps R coming back online,aBC made the biggest mistake ,ever known to man by canceling both soaps,what,s ABC,S loss is Prospect Park,s gain ,now all we need are more of our favorite actors n actresses to sign on ,then we,ll be in buisness

This is so exciting, after As the world Turns & Guiding Light were canceled I turned to OLTL & AMC just to have them ripped away, I started watching OLTL because some of my favorite actors went there from GL just to have them get canceled. So excited to start watching them online again, I wish some of GL & ATWT could be revived or brought to TOLN. The networks need to remember it’s mostly baby boomers that are watching and there’s a bunch of us out here!

Don’t mind me, I am just swinging from the chandelier :) As a lifelong fan of AMC and OLTL I have never given up on these iconic shows. I already bought a new TV with the ability to watch my soaps online last year,before Prospect Park put their plans on hold. I am so grateful to them for not giving up. When you have quality,beloved shows and characters paired with aan innovative production company and devoted fans, then you can make magic happen.

I am so excited that One Life To Live will be returning. People who don’t watch a soap, don’t understand the intensity of the connection to the show. It’s not the same connection that is made with other TV shows. The loyalty and devotion of the soap fans is unprecedented. I am sure this relationship (if marketed correctly) will be very profitable.